Animal-poke



(No Model.)

H. MCGUIRE.

ANIMAL POKE. No. 553,358. Patented Jan. 21, 1896'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MCGUIRE, OF MEMPHIS, MICHIGAN.

ANlMAL-POKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,358, dated January 21, 1896.

Application filed April 29, 1895. Serial No. 547,557. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MCGUIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Pokes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of an animal-poke comprising a collar or yoke adapted to be secured about the neck, a strap adapted to be secured about the fore leg and a poke-bar connected to the collar or yoke and slidingly engaging with the leg-strap. The object of the construction is to obtain a device which is simple, so that it can be cheaply manufactured and easily applied, and yet which, while not in any way interfering with the usual movements of a horse, will effectu ally prevent his jumping fences and will not injure him in restraining him from so jumping, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a horse with my device applied. Fig. 2 shows a horse as in the act of attempting to jump a fence, showing how my device checks him. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my device detached.

A is a yoke or collar, preferably of sheet metal, as shown, and having a series of apertures B in the side bars thereof, through which the cross-bar O is adapted to be engaged and held in position in any suitable manner, as by the split key D. To this cross-bar is secured the poke-bar E, which preferably has the outwardly curved lower end section F.

G are two collars on the poke-bar.

His a strap having suitable securing means for securing it upon one of the fore legs of a horse. Secured to this strap is the rigid yoke I, on the forward point of which is the lug J in the end of which is pivoted the eye or loop K, which encircles the poke-bar E between the collars G, the poke-bar thus being free to slide vertically in the loop, the distance between the collars G.

The parts being substantially as set forth, and attached to a horse, as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that in walking or eating the de- Vice will not interfere with his free movement, the poke-bar sliding up and down in the loop on his leg, as he moves his head up or down, and the loop sliding on the bar, as he lifts his leg in walking. Now, if he attempts to jump a fence, as he raises his feet, as shown in Fig. 2, the hook or bend F will engage with the fence and check his efforts. If he jumps at a point where the hook F would not engage the fence, the upward movement of his legs will cause the loop K to strike the upper collar G and force the crossbar 0 against his throat, effectually preventing his jumping, in case of horses exceptionally hard to control.

W'hat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a poke, the combination with a neck yoke, of the cross-bar secured to and extending across the lower end thereof, a poke bar pivotally secured at one side to the lower end of the yoke, having projections thereon, a leg strap, and a loop pivotally secured on the front of the leg strap and through which the poke bar passes, substantially as described.

2. In a poke, the combination of a yoke, a rigid cross-bar secured across the lower end thereof, a poke bar pivotally secured at the end of the cross bar, the forwardly curved or hook shaped lower portion F on the poke bar, the collars G on the poke bar, the eye or loop K embracing the poke bar between the collars and a leg strap adapted to be secured to 'the fore leg of a horse above the knee to which said loop is pivotally secured, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY MCGUIRE.

' Witnesses r GUSTAVUS BARTON, WM. F. HARRINGTON. 

